Death Knight Difference

Moon Guard
1

Hello fellow Knights of the Ebon Blade. I have a question about the generation of Death Knights currently out there. I read the lore, but it just confuses me the more I read it or it’s not making sense. Any way. I am hoping someone can tell me (In layman terms) the difference between a Generation 2 Knight and a Generation 3 Knight. I understand 1st Gen as well as 4th Gen.

Thank you! Suffer well.

P.S.
If I see any Death Knight with an Ebon Blade tabard or a Death Knight in general, you will be saluted at.

2

Second Generation death knights were still made by bestowing a powerful runeblade onto a knight, empowering to an emissary of death under sway of the Lich King. Numerous embittered knights and paladins took up this unholy gift of power, despite the costs of free will.

My understanding is that the events of the DK starter zone take place at the beginning of Wrath of the Lich King. Arthas didn’t awaken until after the events of Sunwell Plateau, so this has to be when that took place. However, the player character has the passive “Veteran of the Third War,” implying that they fought during Warcraft 3. Presumably they were killed then fighting against Arthas, but weren’t raised until the attack on the Scarlet Crusade.

There are Dks of all races so there must be enough time for those races to travel to scourge infested places, die and be resurrected.

I just can’t determine how recent that is.

(Third)
I would say that the Resurrection itself is recent, like the LK just raised you, since you are treated as a new recruit by Razuvious, altought, it can also be that you(the player) just took some time to break and serve the lich king.

If thats the case, then the resurrection is somewhere on the timeline i cited.

Specific battles and other conflicts when they could/would have died would be great to know as well!

Stratholme

Naxxramas from Classic.

Random battle as a member of the Argent Dawn.

I have no idea on Fourth Generation.

SOMEONE WITH ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE HELP THIS POOR draenei.

3

First generation: Orcish necromancer souls shoved into the dead corpses of Stormwind knights during the first war. See: Teron Gorefiend

Second Generation: As Rabald said–embittered knights and paladins that became disillusioned after the fall of Lordaeron to the plague. Many went to Northrend where they willingly gave up life and will to accept the power of death (and the yoke of the Lich King. They were bestowed oft-vampiric runeblades that sapped the life force out of them in exchange for massive powers over death. See: Marwyn and Falric

Third Generation: Mass-raised knights used as shock troops for the assault on the Scarlet Enclave by Acherus at the beginning of Wrath of the Lich King. potentially not as powerful as Second Generation as they were given On-The-Job training and were ultimately sacrifical pawns in the Lich King’s plans. See: In-game DK starting area.

Fourth Generation: Death Knights raised by Bolvar Fordragon during the Fourth War in anticipation of the struggle against the Jailer. I’m not so sure about their strengths and weaknesses but then again Blizz was using this as a means of getting Pandaren/Allied Races into Death Knights. There’s a potential for them to be made/risen willingly? It gets hazy. See: Allied Race DK starting area.

3 Likes
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Thank you so much for all this knowledge as well as clearing the air! I really do appreciate it!

5

Hey there! I’ve actually written a DK guide in the past, due to this exact question!

So! Something to keep in mind is, “Generation.” Is more of a fanon thing for us Ebon Blade RPers. So, none of it is actually set in stone from Blizzard. I’ll copy and paste this from my own guide.

FIRST GENERATION [Year 5]

Made from the corpses of slain Knights of Stormwind during the last battle in the First War. Gul’dan created these soldiers for Orgrim Doomhammer. The souls of deceased warlocks of the Shadow Council were placed into these fallen humans to create the first Death Knights.These were not like the Knights you see today: “Unlike modern death knights of the Scourge, these ghoulish fiends were not battle hardened warriors; they were insidious necromancers who possessed superior intellect and tremendous magical power.” Most of these Death Knights were destroyed during and after the Second War, or transformed into liches. [Year 4-8].

SECOND GENERATION [Approximately Year 20-21]

A small band of renegade paladins after being persecuted by the general populace who believed they were infected with the plague when attempting to help. They set off to travel north to find the source of the plague. During this, they succumbed to “bitter hatred”. Once they reached Ner’zhul’s fortress, the Lich King (Ner’zhul) offered them “untold power” in exchange for their loyalty. They accepted such. They retained their humanity, but their souls were twisted and bound to the will of the Frozen Throne for all time. They were bestowed black vampiric runeblades, shadowy steeds and served as the Scourge’s mightiest generals at the time

DEBATED SECOND GEN: [Year 20-22]

“The rest were primarily made up of other fallen warriors or paladins whose souls were twisted and bound to the will of the Frozen ” It’s uncertain if “Second Generation” also includes members who were also raised in different situations around that time such as: Thassarian and Koltira Deathweaver. It is up to player choice if said Knights are Second or Third Generation.

NOTE: It is player choice if 2nd gen also applies to those who were not given vampric runeblades. However, in my opinion, “Generation” implies time. So I personally consider Paladins/Warriors risen in that time who weren’t Silver Hand Second generation.

THIRD GENERATION: [Year 27]

Bound to the will of the Lich King Arthas, these Death Knights are more popularly known. Risen in bulk as former heroes in life, they faced intense challenges which if failed resulted in execution. The majority of lore for Third Generations you can find by simply completing the Death Knight starting zone questline. The majority of Death Knights belong to the Third Generation.

FOURTH GENERATION: [Year 32-33]

There’s very limited lore regarding Fourth Generation currently. It’s assumed they’re risen similar, if not identical to Third Generation. There’s nothing confirming if they are, or aren’t bound to the Throne, but they do swear fealty. It is unsure if they suffer from similar hunger and/or emotional absence. In my opinion roleplaying them similar to Third Generation is probably the most reasonable method until more lore is made available.

If you ever need more DK lore help, or if you ever wanna discuss it. Feel free to add my discord: Basic Glitch#8653